Tiga backs calls for better dev/academia ties

UK Game group Tiga has endorsed recent statements made by Business Secretary Lord Mandelson, who recently urged Brown’s Government to spend more on higher education and allow businesses to help shape the curriculum.

“Greater business engagement with higher education is crucially important,” said Tiga CEO Richard Wilson.

“By engaging with universities businesses have the chance to exploit the research base and improve the quality of graduates. Games businesses are already working with higher education.”

A recent Tiga survey revealed that 39 per cent of developers were working with universities or colleges to aid courses and share knowledge.

“Despite our current economic difficulties we cannot escape the need to invest more in education and to spend it more effectively,” added Wilson.

“As a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the UK spends less than some of our major competitors. Canada, South Korea and the USA spend between 2.5 per and 2.9 per cent of GDP on tertiary education, compared to just 1 per cent in the UK. We need to increase the proportion of GDP devoted to tertiary education.”